Meet Troy Murphy

Moguls, sometimes referred to as bumps, can be intimidating—especially for those skiers who have never tried them. They can also be insanely fun and highly sought after, but usually only by a select, small group of converts. Troy Murphy, a member of the U.S. Freestyle Team, is one such skier who grew up on the bumpy slopes of Sunday River and used moguls to eventually carve a name for himself as a professional athlete. We caught up with Troy to talk about the first ever Murphy’s Mogul Day at Sunday River, learn more about this event, and find out why it would appeal to someone who needs to get over their fear hump of bumps.

Photo credit: Jannick Fjledsoe

“It’s hard for people to get into mogul skiing in the East,” says Troy about Murphy’s Mogul Day. “Moguls in the east are typically icy and uninviting. With Murphy’s Mogul Day I wanted to create an event that is an easy and pleasant experience for the beginner.”

“I got into bump skiing through the Gould Academy Competition Program and fell in love with moguls around 9 or 10 years old. While in the program we typically trained on Agony or Tempest.”

Photo credit: Troy Murphy

“For Murphy’s Mogul Day I’m offering two free training sessions on Dream Maker. Sunday River is creating a gentle, beginner course perfect for someone who has never tried skiing moguls or wants to become better at it. The event is open to all ages and abilities.”

“I hope that, in addition to converting more skiers into mogul enthusiasts, this event will allow me to meet new people who I can invite to my fundraiser at the Barker Bar later that night. As a member of the U.S. Freestyle B Team, I am responsible for all of my travel and training expenses, which comes to about $30k a year. For those who can’t make either the free mogul training or the fund-raiser at Barker Bar, I have an online auction through January 9 that supporters can take advantage of.”

“The competitive season has only just begun, but my skiing is the best it has ever been and I am really excited to compete.”